Letter: Aircon System Issue of Sta. Fe

[sergi]

I had an argument with my folks now. Hyundai Commonwealth told us that the sour smell is normal for Sta. Fes according sa mga tao sa planta. I smell that this is a defect cover-up by Hyundai, refusing to admit issues with their aircon system. I will open a thread to know the count of vehicles with sour smelling aircon.

I don't know if you happened to try to address your problem by sending an email or letter directly to the ceo or president of HARI? I had chief complaint before with my Japanese car and i attempted to really write a letter to the manufacturer's president. I showed this to the dealer and all people concerned. Right then and there, they began to be apologetic and they fixed the problem until i was fully satisfied. Sometimes you got to give these bums a dose of their own medicine. We are customers and we should not condone being treated like this.

[Horsepower]

Fungi yan. Imagine bits of it going inside your lungs.

[imperialv]

Gumamit ka ba ng lysol.. Isang reason yan kung bakit bumabaho ang sasakyan...

[tradewind26]

Anu ba dapat pabango sa sasakyan? kung hindi pede lysol

[oliver1013]

Ano ba ang brand ng A/C ng hyundai? Dati yung civic ko nagkaproblema sa A/C dinala ko sa casa ni refer naman ako sa Sanden.

Toyota at isuzu and later model Mitsubishi ata Denso. For me more superior than Nissan's Calsonic in terms of durability and longevity.

As for the smell, for me puro hearsay yung mga causes of bad smell, I smoke in my car pero di naman bumabaho ng long term, amoy yosi yes pero after a few mins ok na. My kids also eat inside the car. The next day walang bakas ng amoy. Kahit food ganun din. My car is 8 years old basta bagong linis amoy bago parin. The only reason na umaamoy based on my experience, is dirty evaporator or a malfunctioning recirculate control.

Alamin mo lang kung ano brand ng A/C ng hyundai then kung may service center sila dito dun mo na dalhin. Kung under warranty yan alam ko they will honor it kasi sa pagkakaintindi ko may separate warranty on battery, tires and aircon that different manufacturers recognize.

[arsen]

Try po ninyo eh google this phrase "There are typically four (4) types of objectionable odors found in a vehicle" you will see that the transport safety board (TSB) had written a report regarding that smelly thing long before pa:

According to the TSB the four sources are:
Chemical odors
Microbiological odors
Environmental odors
Human generated odors


The fishy/ musty/ urine (maasim na amoy) that may have experienced by some will fall into two sources:

1. Chemical source particularly wet adhesive of those fresh from assembly line then sold immediately to customers.

2. Microbiological source (molds, fungi) or those microbial growth found in:
A. Foam Seals
B. Rubber Seals
C. Adhesives
D. Standing Water (not properly drained condensates)
E. Evaporator/Heater core

There might be a small spot in the above mentioned places where fungi builds their colony. That small spot is enough to produce nasty smell in the cabin. One example is smelly foot wherein the source is only in one spot between the toes but the nasty smell pollutes the entire room.

Ang unit ni TS is over 1 year old (acquired October 2009?) the adhesive should have dried by now therefore chemical source is out. But since that smelly thing still exists, microbial source is now the remaining culprit.

Some manufacturer offered an optional solution against microbial growth in response to the TSB report. The solution is a time delay system that keeps the blower running (using outside air) for some period of time after the A/C is switched off in order to blow dry the evaporator and air ducts. The system was offered as option and it is not free.

[arsen]

I had an argument with my folks now. Hyundai Commonwealth told us that the sour smell is normal for Sta. Fes according sa mga tao sa planta. I smell that this is a defect cover-up by Hyundai, refusing to admit issues with their aircon system. I will open a thread to know the count of vehicles with sour smelling aircon.

Opening a new thread not only to count numbers but especially to share and collect information is a good idea because it might be too difficult to win this case if the smell comes from microbes. Besides, even if the manufacturer will replace the evaporator, it’s the same design so there is still a high possibility that the same problem might happen again if the habit and the way a person use the car are not changed.

By sharing information maybe those who are affected can discover some common actions or common habit that may help explain why you guys are having similar smelly issue.


Here are some sample questions and some unsolicited opinions why the question is significant:

1. How far you usually travel?

A frequent short distance travel with A/C "ON" followed by overnight parking makes the microbes happy because you just supply them with enough moisture, enough collection of airborne organic matters for food and enough time (undisturbed) to prosper and build a slimy smelly colony.
Whereas if the vehicle is driven much longer or if the A/C is operating longer, with car window closed and air re-circulated, the manufacturer even gives you warning that the air may be too dry which should also mean that the evaporator (if there is no frost) and air-ducts should be dry also.


2. After you arrive to your destination do you usually keep the doors/window open for some time while the A/C? is still operating?

Keeping the door/window open for some time after arriving at the destination will introduce new air into the cabin. And in hot and humid country like the Philippines it will immediately make the evaporator and air-duct wet or it may saturate the entire cabin with moisture. This is because once a hot and humid air touches a surface with temperature that is lower than the dew point temperature of that air, that surface will soon become wet. One example is a glass of cold drink. Observe how much moisture is condensed outside of the glass.


3. Your parking area is flat or inclined? if inclined on which side?

I believe that the A/C systems are designed or that the evaporator fins are arranged in a way so that condensates are guided towards the drain when the car is on a flat surface. Whereas if the car is parked in an angle; there might be some parts/surfaces that are soaked or hold moisture that promotes growth of microbes.

[weisshorn]

++ for this. Very nice post and absolutely true.

[mikmik316]

The only reason na umaamoy based on my experience, is dirty evaporator or a malfunctioning recirculate control.

That malfunctioning recirculate control, nangyari sa rav4 namin yan. Dirty evaporator, twice ng nag aircon cleaning.

Ang catch talaga dito, Hyundai Commonwealth did not replace any parts! What check the letter sa start ng thread, we demanded parts replacement and sabi daw ng planta normal daw yung case namin na umaasim na amoy. WTF!

[oliver1013]

That malfunctioning recirculate control, nangyari sa rav4 namin yan. Dirty evaporator, twice ng nag aircon cleaning.

Ang catch talaga dito, Hyundai Commonwealth did not replace any parts! What check the letter sa start ng thread, we demanded parts replacement and sabi daw ng planta normal daw yung case namin na umaasim na amoy. WTF!

Casa don't know squat about A/C. Alamin mo talaga yung brand ng A/C ng hyundai and bring the unit to the dealer. Yung toyota namin dati pag nasira A/C di ko dinadala sa Casa sa Denso ko dinederetso. Mas alam nila yan bro.

[reactor]

sir, yung nilinis ang A/C ng tucs ko mga taga denso ang nag service. it took 2 days to finish the job. i dont think cas have their own A/C tech most likely mga contractors ang gumagawa kasi hindi naman araw araw may nililinis na A/C that's the reason why mataas ang charges nila kaso may add on sila on top of the charges ng contractor.

why dont you try to get permission and approval from HARI na ikaw ang magpapa check sa DENSO (kung denso and A/C) then see the result kung naayos charge to them the cost this way there's no excuse for them to void the warranty.

my exeience with my other car, ng hindi naayos ng casa yung problem ng car, i asked their consent na ipapagawa ko sa labas then ng naayos nai charge ko sa kanila yung cost.

[oliver1013]

Yep thats what I'm sayin, as for my honda's case before, the casa gave me a letter at itinawag na din ata nila sa Sanden na under warranty yung auto, so inayos ng sanden and they acknowledged the warranty.

And also try looking for the separate warranty for the aircon if any, denso, sanden, mit air etc. Kung meron dun mo na dalhin and show them your warranty card. Ang problema lang if ang hyundai A/C ay talagang sa casa lang ginagawa, you'll have to deal with them nalang talaga

[tidus1203]

In the SF's case walang separate aircon warranty. Its part of the overall car warranty so sa CASA talaga ang gawa nyan...

[oliver1013]

Yun lang..

[mikmik316]

And ang problema, Hyundai Commonwealth cleaned the aircon twice already and there is still bad sour smell! Pineperahan lang nila yata ang HARI e!

[weisshorn]

sa pagka alam ko, tinatawagan ng technician mula sa labas ng casa kapag aircon ang repair. Yan ang pagkasabi sa akin dyan sa hyundai manila bay. Ang advise nila ay schedule before hand kasi hindi daw nila tao ang gagawa. Aywan ko lang dyan sa commonwealth kung paano.

[Turbocharger]

I had an argument with my folks now. Hyundai Commonwealth told us that the sour smell is normal for Sta. Fes according sa mga tao sa planta. I smell that this is a defect cover-up by Hyundai, refusing to admit issues with their aircon system. I will open a thread to know the count of vehicles with sour smelling aircon.

Good day! Sir mikmik316, would like to know any update on your Santa Fe Aircon System, naresolve ba yung issue??
I'm also having the SAME Problem, mabaho & maasim yung unang buga ng AC then mawawala lang after few minutes to think na 3 months old palang yung unit ko kaya talagang very disappointing...tsk..tsk..tsk..

What was the solution done by the casa??

[bratski]

Good day! Sir mikmik316, would like to know any update on your Santa Fe Aircon System, naresolve ba yung issue??
I'm also having the SAME Problem, mabaho & maasim yung unang buga ng AC then mawawala lang after few minutes to think na 3 months old palang yung unit ko kaya talagang very disappointing...tsk..tsk..tsk..

What was the solution done by the casa??

Try niyo pa check aircon filter, baka may mga molds na kumapit. To think 3 months palang unit niyo. Gumagamit ba kayo ng mga gel air freshener? Pag nag evaporate kasi yan hinihigop ng system and naiiwan sa filter

[Turbocharger]

^ Actually, hindi ako gumamit ng kahit na anong Airfreshener dahil bago panga sya pero ng nagsimula yung amoy napilitan na akong gumamit, however walang epekto..have been reading previous post in this thread pero WALA YATANG CONCLUSION... hindi NA-CLOSED yung case.... Ano kaya best option para masolve ang problem nato??
Thanks sa mga mag aadvise....

[Starex_Gold]

Nasanay ako sa ganyang amoy dahil sa Honda Minsan kahit malamig na, andun parin yung sour smell.

Pero yung SF, Tucson at Sportage wala naman.